Eu Member moving to Canada for Common Law (Inland) - August 2026

[MDudas96]

Hey guys,
So I am an Eu citizen who is exempt from having to get a visitor visa as I can enter the country for 6 months with just an eTA. Once we are there we are looking to commence the application for a Common Law Visa as my partner is Canadian and can sponsor me to then eventually get PR. The pathway we found on the official websites does not include information about entering and then settling from a country that does not need a Visa. What is the process like? Has anyone had experience with this? I am aware that due to how long it can take to process the CLV I may need to apply for a Visitor extension which is fine but what is the process like from this angle ? Any advice or additional information is suer useful !

 

[Naturgrl]

There is no common law visa. Partner is sponsoring you for Permanent Residency. So if you are common law then you have proof that you have lived together continuously for at least 12 months (leases, bank statements, utilities, taxes etc.). Partner is taking on a financial obligation to support you for a minimum of 3 years.

Once in Canada, apply for sponsorship. You can stay up to 6 months on your eTA so before the 6 months is up then apply for a visitor record to extend stay. Once you get AOR (around 4-6 months after PR application is submitted) then you can apply for a work permit. Processing is another 6-8 months. You don't leave during the process except for a short visit.

 

[MDudas96]

Awesome, thanks for clarifying that. Just to be clear we are not married yet hence why thinking of applying for the common law route. I'm guessing it makes sense to do it and just apply for permanent residence with him as my sponsor then once we have the licence?

 

[canuck78]

Hey guys,
So I am an Eu citizen who is exempt from having to get a visitor visa as I can enter the country for 6 months with just an eTA. Once we are there we are looking to commence the application for a Common Law Visa as my partner is Canadian and can sponsor me to then eventually get PR. The pathway we found on the official websites does not include information about entering and then settling from a country that does not need a Visa. What is the process like? Has anyone had experience with this? I am aware that due to how long it can take to process the CLV I may need to apply for a Visitor extension which is fine but what is the process like from this angle ? Any advice or additional information is suer useful !

Just a warning that you can be granted an up to 6 month visit on an ETA but the 6 months is not guaranteed. If you are already common law I would start your application before you try to enter Canada.

 

[armoured]

Awesome, thanks for clarifying that. Just to be clear we are not married yet hence why thinking of applying for the common law route. I'm guessing it makes sense to do it and just apply for permanent residence with him as my sponsor then once we have the licence?

Are you already common law (have previously resided together for a minimum of 12 months contiguously) or not?

 

[MDudas96]

Are you already common law (have previously resided together for a minimum of 12 months contiguously) or not?

Yes, we’ve lived together for 12 months as of May 2026. We’ve got some bank statements registered at the same address so we could prove it. I am going to get the police report and medical out of the way as soon as possible so we can start the application before we leave in August.

 

[armoured]

Yes, we’ve lived together for 12 months as of May 2026. We’ve got some bank statements registered at the same address so we could prove it. I am going to get the police report and medical out of the way as soon as possible so we can start the application before we leave in August.

In that case, reasonably straightforward.

Note though: just bank statements would be thin evidence of residing together. I'd suggest you go through the sponsorship application and see the evidence suggested as proofs of having resided together long enough for common law. You should provide as much as you can, because your 12-month period is recent. (Obviously a bit less onerous for those with years together, kids, etc). Other than that don't know much about your situation so you'll have to figure it out.

Also: if you apply before you depart, your spouse will have to present some evidence of intent to return to Canada. Partner can add things to the file after arriving (rental info, bank accounts, phone #s, etc - evidence that you - one or both - have arrived and settled).

 

[MDudas96]

In that case, reasonably straightforward.

Note though: just bank statements would be thin evidence of residing together. I'd suggest you go through the sponsorship application and see the evidence suggested as proofs of having resided together long enough for common law. You should provide as much as you can, because your 12-month period is recent. (Obviously a bit less onerous for those with years together, kids, etc). Other than that don't know much about your situation so you'll have to figure it out.

Also: if you apply before you depart, your spouse will have to present some evidence of intent to return to Canada. Partner can add things to the file after arriving (rental info, bank accounts, phone #s, etc - evidence that you - one or both - have arrived and settled).

This is great info, thank you ! We have the checklist and thankfully also have family/friends who are happy to give supporting statements plus like photos and stuff going back two years as well. We have a six month lease on both our names and we will continue to live together there obviously. We’re staying with his family for awhile so it’s not like we’re going without support thankfully. But it’s stressful nevertheless and neither of us have been through a VISA application process before so everything helps.